Astonishingly released within months of Jackson's 1979 debut album Look Sharp!, I'm the Man is another tight and inspired set of power-pop that features some of Jackson’s best and most timeless tunes. Many of the songs here like “On Your Radio,” “Kinda Kute,” and the title track “I’m the Man” fall right in line with the punchy guitar riffs and pounding bass that made Look Sharp! such a driving force. In fact, this was the last album Jackson would make in this new-wave vein for over 20 years. Jackson followed I’m the Man with only one more album featuring the tight ensemble featured here- Graham Maby (bass), Gary Sanford (guitar) and Tony Houghton (drums)- and creatively restless soul that he is didn’t return to this brand of power pop until reuniting that lineup for 2003’s underrated Volume 4. I doubt it was possible to listen to I’m the Man in 1979, and predict the subsequent ska-inspired Beat Crazy or 1982’s ode to jazz, Night and Day. But we do hear the songwriter growing into his powers with “It’s Different for Girls,” one of his strongest and most lyrically perceptive songs, and one with decades of staying power; one of Jackson’s great live set pieces today is a solo piano arrangement of that song that’s as arresting as the original in some ways. Jackson would famously broaden his influences in later albums and his catalog is nothing if not diverse. While Jackson’s greatest commercial success was Night and Day, Look Sharp! and I’m the Man are new-wave classics that improve with every listen!

Mastering Notes

I'm the Man is sourced from the best analog tape currently available, a beautifully preserved ½” “safety copy” of the original stereo master. When mastering this LP we compared what we were getting off the tape to an original A&M UK LP. While great sounding overall, the original LP is of course a very edgy sounding New Wave, post-punk record with a brashness that borders on being outright bright sounding. Where the aggressive top -end energy is concerned, the tapes showed no discenible age! We were able to maintain that grungy edge, but also restore the driving bass lines and bottom-end foundation that were on these tapes. The result is the best-sounding I'm the Man anyone's ever heard, with all the drive and pop of the original UK release, but with superb tonal balance, imaging and clarity. The definitive issue of this iconic New Wave classic!

The (Re)Discover Series

You know those songs that come up on the radio when you’re driving and you crank up the volume to 11 and sing your lungs out? That’s the spirit of what Intervention’s (Re)Discover Series is all about! Taking these FM classics and presenting them in "like you’ve never heard it before" sound quality so you can get that same blast of energy and excitement on your hi-fi at home. The hallmark of this series will be 100% analog mastering from real analog tapes. Combining superior master sources with the truly full-range mastering chain at Cohearent Audio and RTI’s dead quiet vinyl pressing means that you’ll hear these FM staples with power, majesty and musical detail like it’s the first time. (Re)Discover these sonic treasures with us!

Subscribe to our newsletter

This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here instead